Kampf um Rom I is a 1968 West German historical drama film directed by Robert Siodmak

Robert Siodmak

Robert Siodmak was a German born American film director. He is best remembered as a thriller specialist and for the series of Hollywood film noirs he made in the 1940s.-Early life:...

, about Justinian

Justinian I

Justinian I ; , ; 483– 13 or 14 November 565), commonly known as Justinian the Great, was Byzantine Emperor from 527 to 565. During his reign, Justinian sought to revive the Empire's greatness and reconquer the lost western half of the classical Roman Empire.One of the most important figures of...

's (AD 483-565) attempts to repel barbarian incursions and reclaim those parts of the empire

Western Roman Empire

The Western Roman Empire was the western half of the Roman Empire after its division by Diocletian in 285; the other half of the Roman Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire, commonly referred to today as the Byzantine Empire....

 already lost. Before screening it in the US in 1973 both parts were combined to one and shortened from over three hours to 94 minutes. This version was brought to German movie theatres in 1976 later on.

Story

The film is based on the novel Ein Kampf um Rom written by Felix Dahn

Felix Dahn

Felix Ludwig Julius Dahn was a German lawyer, author and historian.-Biography:Julius Sophus Felix Dahn was born in Hamburg as the oldest son of Friedrich and Constanze Dahn who were notable actors at the city's theatre. The family had both German and French roots...

 in 1876 and describes the fight of the Ostrogoths for Italy from the death of their king Theoderic the Great until their doom in 552 AD. The movie is full of palace intrigues and monumental battles between Goths, Romans and Byzantines.